The Indian Air Force has sped up its plan to raise the first squadron of indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

With its fighter squadron strength dwindling and finalisation of medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) still eluding, the Indian Air Force has sped up its plan to raise the first squadron of indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Sources in the Defence Ministry told UNI that the IAF was planning to raise the first squadron of the aircraft by next year after getting the delivery of at least six Tejas in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has already delivered the first IOC-standard aircraft to IAF in January this year.

Rest of the five Tejas of same configuration are likely to be handed over to it by this financial year end, the sources said.

The first squadron of Tejas will be rechristened as Squadron 45 and it would be called ‘Flying Daggers’. Keeping the logistical issues in mind, the squadron will be based in Bangalore so that the HAL may be called into service at any given point to sort out the teething problems if any, an IAF official said, adding that subsequently, the squadron would be shifted to Sulur base of the IAF.

First squadron of LCA was likely to be declared fully operational in 2022 when all of its 18 aircraft would be upgraded to final operational clearance (FOC) configuration, the sources said.

In the meantime, the IAF would start raising the second squadron of Tejas, comprising 18 aircraft of FOC-standard.

The second Tejas squadron of 20 FOC-standard is likely to become fully operational by 2020. It was officially communicated to one of the parliamentary panel recently that the IAF’s fighter squadron strength has come down to 34 against the authorised strength of 42 combat squadrons.